The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1887-12-21
Obituary.
DrAru OF Gov. J.R. BopwrIL.

DtAlA W 'NN' - ~ 49,
The death of Gov Joseph Robinson Bodwel
of Maine occurred in llallowcll early on Thurs
day morning. lie was suddenly taken i'll at
Brunswick, Me, on the 9TH with congestion Of
the lungs, resulting in great part from exposure
and the effects Of oyerwork, and since that date
has gradually failed. Gov. Bodwell was self
made man. For long period OF his life he
worked at the hardest manual labor, and lived III
humble circumstances, relying upon his own eN-
ertions, for livelihood, but during all tins time
displaying that uprightness and ability which
was 10 lay the foundation for future credit and
success His father was farmer i'll Methuen,
Mass, and there Joseph was born June Is,
ISIS. The boy worked on farm, receiving as
hi. remuneration S. month until 1880, when
he learned the shoemakcr's trade, and at this he
lahored every evening, attending school IN the
daytime and so increasing his financial hold
ings and his education ut the same time. Hav
ing bought, with his father, farm in W est Me
thuen, on this he worked for ten years, until his
fathers death Capitalists began to utilize the
water power Of the Merrmac at Lawrence, and
in order To construct dam they engaged Mr..
Bodwc to haul granite from Pelham, y. IL.
1t was the opening Of a new career for him. as II
gave him opportunity TO become familiar with
the methods Of quarrying and working granite,
and induced him, in 1852, 10 associate with Moses
Webster in the granite business at Fox Island,
in Pcnobscot Bay With one yoke Of oxen he
began.his work. driving them himself and even
shoeing them with his own hands, for at all
times Joseph Bodwell demonstrated his ability
to adapt himself to all circumstances and to do
whatever work was necessary. From this be-
ginning an association Of capitalists was formed
under the name Of the BodScll Granite Com
pany. with Mr.. Bodwcll as President. Under
his management the association attained high
rank, while the business was probably the largest
ever conducted by any single man in the coun-
Try The State and War Departments at Wash
hair IN from
rics, and many important public editces have
been built from the Maine stone In 1866 Mr.
Bodwell removed to llaowcl, there organized
the Iaowel Granite Company, and cut out the
light colored granite which is inferior to no
other granite for use in statuary From these
companys which Mr.. Bodwell guided came ma
terial used in the Yorktown Monument, the
Soldiers Monument on Boston Common, the
Monument at Plymouth Mass, the new Capitol
Mt Albany, n. Y, and in public buildings Of
Chicago, Brooklyn and New York. The Sphinx
in Mount Auburn, a well-known piece Of work,
was carved from the llallowcll quarry, With
his interest in the stone business Mr.. Bodwel
united love for agricultural pursuits, owning
and cultiyating with success a large farm at
Halowell, and in 1879 importing herd Of thor
ough-b bred Hereford cattle, a venture from which
he did not expect financial gain, but which was
so successful as to make him one Of the largest
importers of special booded stock in the couu-
try He has sold animals from his stock farm
to farmers in all the New England and Middle
States, as well as in the West. His active en-
ergy was also devoted in part TO the Bodwel
Water Company at Oldtown, of which he was
President, to extensive numbering operations on
the Kennebec River and to the shipping inter
ests along the coast Of Maine, while recently IN
addition assuming the duties OF President Of
the Rapid Transit Company between Boston
and New York he has labored with great assidu-
ity to make that enterprise a success. In politi-
r.. tfn. tod al Lam